Object description

This dress was made in the 1940s by the fashion house, Betty Barclay, and is representative of the fashion of the period. Originating from the latter half of the decade, the dress, embodies a simplicity of line and cut, which demonstrates a clever and thrifty use of fabric, with much of the design detail arising as a result of the use of the small floral pattern. The pattern and bias cut expresses movement and fluidity which belies the actual use of fabric, and the positioning of pattern pieces, cut to show an angled half-diamond shape creates a sense of length.

The bodice is made from 3 pieces and the skirt from 4, and the detail in relation to shape come from pattern use and darts and gathers. The arm pieces are particularly interesting as they too use the patterned fabric well, but also demonstrate volume through the use of detailed stitched techniques.

The dress is made from loose weave cotton and is a pale cornflower blue in colour. The pattern is navy and white snowdrops or lily of the valley, positioned in horizontal lines. Detail comes largely from the patter, but the dress also includes 5 functional buttons to the front-centre of the bodice, and the plain round collar draws attention towards the sleeves and the downwards trend of the line. The sleeve is tailored to fit the arm after puffing at the shoulder and the details create a sense of width in the shoulder area, whilst creating a long-line in the body.

The dress, when worn, would hang at just below the knee, which would have emphasised the movement and volume in the cut when the wearer was walking, or sitting.